The Handmaid's Tale Vol 2

[PacificDogwod]

I go to work and this is what happens: the previous thread fills up when I have pertinent things to say!

Hope nobody minds, I've taken the opportunity to start a new one before the Offspring demand food and the likes...

One of the masterful strikes of strategic genius of the new regime is the division and envy between everybody and everybody: men vs women, women in different roles vs other women, high ranking vs low ranking.
No solidarity is allowed - even the partnered Handmaids were half companion and have guard. Never knowing who might be an Eye and who to trust must be soul destroying.

I think Serena is quite a tragic figure - in the book and in the TV series. She must feel so betrayed by the ideals she fought for and that she is now kind of forced to uphold because otherwise what would her life be?? Admitting that she supporting a world view that while giving her some kind of social status by dint of her husband's role, considers her without value as she cannot have children would render everything she stands for invalid, and herself by extension.

The author who wrote a book about women being able to electrocute men by touch thereby causing a power change over (sorry, I cannot remember either name ) was talking on Radio Scotland today. She said the idea for her book came from when she wondered why so many mechanisms in society seem to go back to the fact that 'more men can throw a woman across a room than the other way around'. It's a depressing thought that physical strength underpins so much.

[BeyondDrinksAndKnowsThings]

Thanks cru!

[CruCru]

Here it is:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/2988237-The-Handmaids-Tale-Vol-3?watched=1

[InigoTaran]

Oh do we need a new thread yet?

[Gowgirl]

Ok ive just read a presumably bad translation of the story of o sans the last chapterfree novel my ass and there is no comparision.

[WickedGirl]

There are no winners in this are there?

[EvilTwins]

That would be SO cool!

[InigoTaran]

I've sent MN a message about it, let's see if we can make it happen ( i.e., if you would love to get Margaret Atwood to do a webchat with us, contact MN - all I did was report my post...)

[EvilTwins]

When Serena & Naomi were out with the baby, was the woman who wanted to look into the prom a Martha or an econowife?

I'm sure the thing with children belonging to their fathers went on much later than the 17th century orlantina. Late 19th century I think.

[CoolCarrie]

IndigoTaran, that is a great idea!

[Willowkins]

Just watched the recording. I love this series. I wondered too at the role of the wives. They do seem complicit because as much as they may hate the situation, being a wife is better than being a Martha, which seems the main alternative. So they are protecting their position. I also thought that Naomi Putnam only wanted Janine's baby because of the prestige it afforded her and not because she was desperate to be a mother. It really made me wonder what we would do in that situation. Finally, really made me uncomfortable to see Janine alive and completely vulnerable. What will happen to her?

[nigelsbigface]

I've read The Power.Loved it!

[InigoTaran]

Also, this book has been mentioned before, but Naomi Alderman's book The Power, is really worth reading! ( apparently it's also going to be made into a TV series...)

[MelanieCheeks]

I think the book says the women in Jezebels have been sterilised.

[InigoTaran]

So many unanswered questions! Wouldn't it be great if MN could do a webchat with Margaret Atwood?

[RobotandPenguin]

That's helpful, thanks. As June was also complicit in the attack and escape and was put back on duty after swift and bloody punishment, and we've seen other punishments such as eye gouging and FGM, I did wonder if they wouldn't have rendered Moira helpless/unable to attack in some way rather than waste the womb. Or is that too evil, even for this Regime?

[ASauvingnonADay]

Absolutely fascinating thread!

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Given how Moira had attacked an aunt at the Red Centre I don't think it would be considered safe to put her in a house as a handmaid, where she could get into the kitchen or the bedroom of a sleeping commander and his wife and would be allowed out shopping. At Jezebels they probably have less freedom and are left alone less.

[deadringer]

I assumed that if women in jezabels get pregnant the baby will be adopted by a childless couple, possibly one that have been unsuccessful with handmaid. We know that there are orphanages too. I also thought that the guard was following them to protect the baby. That poor baby, her 'mum' doesn't seem interested in her at all.

[noblegiraffe]

They didn't know OfGlen was working for the resistance, her punishment and restoration as a Handmaid was because she was sleeping with a Martha. Moira was more rebellious, probably gave them hell when she was captured and so couldn't possibly be put in a house as a Handmaid.

I was struck again last night about how the other wife was saying Serena was lucky for having such an good Handmaid. I wonder what the others are like, they all seem very similar and obedient when out shopping, yet Janine was compared to a feral cat.

[figtreetwig]

I think they considered her too rebellious and that she might recruit other handmaidens in the rebellion. Janine was probably considered easier to control as she is a more vulnerable character.

[Wheelycote]

I wondered that too. Can't see that they'd put her on the pill when they're desperate for healthy children.

[RobotandPenguin]

Apologies if I have missed something but can anyone explain why Moira ended up in Jezebels? My understanding is that she was caught in the escape attempt and given the choice of Jezebel's or the colonies but we know that she is fertile - this is why she was in the red centre in the first place, so it seems at odds with everything else we've seen to have given her those options as either would be a waste of a precious fertile woman. The treatment of June, Emily and Janine shows that they punish and then send the fertile straight back to handmaiden duties so why not Moira?

[ElenaGreco123]

Thank you.

[GColdtimer]

I don't think so @ElenaGreco123 - just a random punter.

[BeyondDrinksAndKnowsThings]

I think the guard was for the baby? As they are such a precious resource they need to be protected at all times?